Jon Lobenstine, director of agronomy at Montgomery County Revenue Authority, speaks during the GCSAA National Golf Day delegation dinner. Photo by Abby Olcese
Col. John Morley’s name was invoked more than a few times during the opening events of the 18th National Golf Day in Washington, D.C.
The first time was by Jon Lobenstine, director of agronomy at Montgomery County Revenue Authority and 27-year Class A GCSAA member, as he discussed details for Tuesday’s planned service project at Old Soldiers Golf Course at the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
“This is where Col. Morley’s words, ‘we depend upon each other’ really come through,” Lobenstine told the gathered volunteers.
Those words were echoed later in the evening by Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO, as he awarded a GCSAA Centennial Challenge Coin to Jack Harrell III, the CEO of Harrell’s, one of the sponsors of National Golf Day. “What we’re seeing tonight is exactly what’s on the back of this coin,” Evans said, noting the famous quote etched on the back. “We can’t do this event without partners.”
National Golf Day kicked off in that spirit of cooperation and service, recognizing the outstanding advocacy efforts of Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award recipients, including 2026 winners: Kurtis Wolford, director of golf course maintenance at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in Carmichael, Calif., and Campus Commons Golf Course in Sacramento, Calif., and 23-year Class A GCSAA member; and Ryan Standifird, golf course superintendent at Longbow Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz., and 21-year Class A GCSAA member; and 2025 winner Casey Anderson, assistant golf course superintendent at City Park Nine Golf Course in Fort Collins, Colo., and eight-year GCSAA member.
“It makes you really proud to be part of such a great association to see these guys talk about the programs and initiatives that we have,” Michael Lee, GCSAA’s senior manager of government affairs, told the room.
The event has come a long way in the last decade-plus, Lobenstine noted.
“This started in the foyer of the Rayburn office building, with a bunch of superintendents bringing in cup cutters and moisture meters to show to legislators,” Lobenstine said. “If we don’t tell our story, someone else will.”
Evans also recognized the long-term effects of meeting with legislators and their staffers year after year to discuss issues affecting the industry, from introductory meetings to signing memorandums of understanding to communicating the impact of proposed bills at the state and national level.
“I can’t tell you how many little conversations that you wouldn’t think matter have mattered over the years,” Evans said.
Abby Olcese is GCM's online editor